//------------------------------//
// Holiday Hi-jinx 
// Story: Cinematic Adventures: How the Grinch Stole Christmas 
// by extremeenigma02 
//------------------------------//

Back in the town of Whoville, the denizens continued to go about their day as usual. Completely unaware that two terrors were currently walking amongst them, ready to spread chaos in their wake. One such figure was dressed in a dirt-colored cloak and a rubber Who mask covering his otherwise green, catlike face. A small mangy-looking dog followed his heels, as he slinked through the town. Accompanying the pair, also dressed in an old smelly cloak, was a tiny, pink-coated Pegasus filly. Normally she’d be taking to the sky and fly, but since she was trying to remain incognito she preferred walking behind her larger companion as a group of Who’s passed by.

“Merry Christmas!” The group said.

“Oh yeah, you bet!” Grinch spoke unenthusiastically. “Ho-ho-ho and stuff.”

“Yeah, and good tidings to all!” Cozy added, under her hood.

“Don’t oversell it kid!” Grinch quietly whispered.

The group of Who’s turned back toward the two suspiciously due to their unenthusiastic responses. However, in doing so they accidentally crashed into another group of Who’s and everyone went down.

“Oh my, someone has vandalized that vehicle!” Grinch spoke, in mock shock. “You see that, the city is a dangerous place.”

“No kidding!” Cozy replied. “To think that could’ve been us, run over by those careless Who’s. So… what shall we do to get back at these ingrates?”

“I’ve got a few ideas,” Grinch smirked.

The Grinch quickly snagged a hacksaw from a nearby hardware store display, hiding it behind his back as they continued down the street. Cozy had no idea what he had in mind with the hacksaw, but she knew it had to be good.

“The Grinch hated Christmas, the whole Christmas season. Now please don’t ask why, no one quite knows the reason.”

“Okay man, no offense or anything, but does ‘everything’ you say have to rhyme?”

“Pardon me my friend, but it’s all part of my presentation.”

“I really need to have a serious discussion with Seuss about this later. Carry on!”

The Grinch and Cozy Glow, with Max in tow, continued down the street passing many other Who’s in their path. The Who’s, being kind as they are, greeted them one by one in such a sickly sweet manner.

“Top of the day!” A policeman greeted.

“Flatfoot!” Grinch waved back.

As they trekked down the path, Cozy noticed two little Who girls skipping merrily along the street. Getting a nasty idea, she grabbed the hacksaw from the Grinch and handed it to the pair.

“Hello little cuties!” She spoke, feigning friendliness. “Here’s a little Christmas present for you! Now be sure to run real fast with it, okay?”

“Okay!” They said excitedly.

“Goody, now come on!” Grinch encouraged. “Double time! Let’s move, move, move!”

The two girls burst into a run down the street with the hacksaw, much to the amusement of the Grinch and Cozy Glow.

“Think they’ll be alright?” Cozy asked.

“Oh yeah, no problem at all,” Grinch scoffed. “Maybe missing a few fingers tomorrow, but they’ve got plenty more.”

Cozy Glow soon spotted a nearby grocery store and a devious idea formed in that twisted little head for one mean thing to do. She quickly marched her way into the store and spotted a smaller Who woman trying to reach a jar from a high shelf. She grinned wickedly before taking a quick peek around then used her wings to float her off the ground towards that top shelf. She grabbed the jar which the woman tried to reach for and examined it.

“Um, excuse me dear,” The woman spoke. “Are you going to buy that?”

“Hmm???” Cozy thought, looking at her.

Then with a smirk, Cozy Glow placed the jay back on the top shelf.

“Nope!” She answered smugly. 

“Well! How rude!” The woman said.

Cozy Glow merely flew away, but not before bumping the top shelf with her hip and sent the jar falling off and right at the woman’s feet with a *SMASH!*. Cozy soon flew out the door and spotted the Grinch holding onto the bumper of a moving car, which pulled him across the way. Cozy Glow quickly made her way back beside the Grinch, who let go of the bumper and together they continued their walk down the street. Seeing a Who passing by with his hands full of presents stacked almost as tall as he was, the Grinch elbowed the man along the side and caused him to lose all control thereby dropping all his gifts. 

“It could be perhaps that his head wasn’t screwed on just right; it could be perhaps that his shoes were too tight.”

“Why would ‘shoes’ affect the way you feel about something? I never got that—”

“But I think the most likely reason of all may have been that his heart was two sizes too small.”

The diabolical duo continued down the street before their paths were stopped by the Zoot Suit Who holding his cane in front of them.

“Hey there strangers!” He greeted. “Won’t let you go till you buy a chapeau!”

The Grinch glared at the Who beneath his mask before glancing over at Cozy Glow, as an idea formed in his own head.

“Wanna see something really useful kid?” He asked her.

“Let’s see it!” Cozy nodded.

The Grinch turned back to the Who and raised his mask just above his mouth. He released a huge, nasty belch so vile a ‘literal’ cloud of a greenish stench emerge. He blew it right into the Who’s face, sending him falling to the ground completely unconscious. Cozy Glow laughed her little hooves off seeing it all happen before her eyes.

“OH MY FAUST!!!” She laughed breathlessly. “That’s the best thing I ever saw! Talk about killer breath! Ha-ha-ha!”

“That’s nothing kiddo,” Grinch chuckled. “Now let’s go. We’ve got places to be, lives to mess with~”

<> 

Meanwhile, back in the department store, a blaring alarm suddenly went off. Everyone around the store looked around in complete confusion, determined to see what set it off. The ponies and Spike instantly assumed their fighting stance.

“What’s going on?” Twilight asked.

“If I had to guess, it’s Cozy Glow causing trouble!” Rainbow answered.

“Wutever that lil’ devil’s up to, we ain’t lettin’ her get away with it!” Applejack said determined.

“Guys… I don’t think you have to worry about anything,” Cindy Lou assured.

“What do you mean Cindy Lou?” Fluttershy asked.

Cindy Lou merely pointed to the checkout counter where the clerk and the manager were both smiling at Lou.

“Lou!” The manager called out. “Congratulations, you’ve maxed out another credit card!”

Instantly, everyone in the store came up front to congratulate Lou. The ponies and Spike merely stood with looks ‘beyond’ confusion.

“That’s what the fuss is about?” Starlight asked.

“And how exactly is that a good thing?” Spike asked Cindy.

“In Whoville, maxing out your credit card on Christmas means you love Christmas most of all,” Cindy responded.

Hearing this made all the ponies, and Spike especially, shake their heads in disbelief. Up at the front desk, everyone still praised Lou for even more debt he now found himself in.

“I’ll be paying this off for years and years,” Lou said proudly. “Plus you know I’ve got the ‘worst’ interest rate.”

Everyone once again burst out laughing, cheering for Lou even while Cindy and her new friends just stared in bewilderment.

“How exactly is putting yourself in excruciating debt supposed to show your holiday spirit?” Starlight asked.

At that moment, Rarity walked toward the rest of the group with a cart loaded with shopping bags and boxed. Her eyes twitched madly, and her mane stuck out in certain places.

“Don’t ask me darling,” She smiled wickedly. “I personally have no idea how any pony could spend so… much… money… heh-heh. Ha-ha-ha-ha! HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!”

<> 

After finally leaving the department store, the Mane Six, Starlight, Spike, Cindy, and Lou made their way down the streets with presents practically hanging off them. Spike ended up carrying the most of Rarity’s things.

“I still can’t believe you actually bought all that stuff!” Twilight spoke disappointed.

“I couldn’t help myself darling,” Rarity defended. “It was on sale. I said to myself, ‘Oh you simply must darling!” and of course I had to agree with myself.”

“And how, Celestia forbid, are you even going to get all that stuff home?” Starlight asked. “’If’ and ‘when’ we go home I might add.”

“That’s… actually a very good question,” Rarity admitted. “But I’ll figure it out!”

“At least she definitely cut back last time,” Spike groaned, under the weight. “This is definitely going to be my exercise for the day.”

Everyone shook their heads in disapproval. Applejack looked over and noticed Cindy Lou seemed lost in her thoughts.

“Somethin’ wrong, Cindy?” She asked.

“Well… there’s something I’ve been thinking about,” Cindy answered.

“Oh? About what, darling?” Rarity asked.

“About this… Cozy Glow. How did you ponies know her?”

The Mane Six, Spike and Starlight Glimmer looked toward each other in concern, at first unsure how to respond. Then Twilight Sparkle, deciding to answer, turned back toward Cindy.

“The truth is Cindy,” Twilight began. “There was a time that Cozy Glow… was a friend back in the day.”

“You mean you ‘did’ call her a ‘friend’?”

“Once,” Fluttershy admitted. “She was the sweetest little Pegasus filly we’ve ever met. She was a student in the School of Friendship.”

“Then one day…” Rainbow paused, nudging her mare-friend. “You tell her, A.J.”

Applejack glared at Rainbow for a moment but proceeded anyway.

“Right…” Applejack spoke, through gritted teeth. “The magic of Equestria was about to disappear for three days. We thought Tirek was behind it all, so we went to Tartarus to ask him some questions.”

“But it was all a trick and… A TRAP!!!” Pinkie said, loudly and dramatically.

Pinkie’s loud scream disturbed all the Who citizens, causing some of them to drop their presents on the ground. They all glared at Pinkie for a few seconds.

“Heh-heh, sorry…” Pinkie squeaked nervously.

“Then what?” Cindy Lou asked.

“We learned from Tirek it was actually Cozy Glow behind the magic’s disappearance the whole time,” Twilight continued. “It was she who trapped us in Tartarus just to get us out of the way…”

“That’s just what I said,” Pinkie said. “A TRAP!!!”

Once again, Pinkie’s loud scream disturbed the Who citizens nearby, one of whom slipped off a ladder trying to hang a wreath and was holding onto it for dear life.

“I’m done…” Pinkie smiled.

“Do you two deal with these type of shenanigans daily?”

“Welcome to our world…”

“But we love it, or we wouldn’t be here.”

“I’ll never forget that day,” Starlight reminisced. “Cozy Glow trapped me inside the orb containing all the magic she drained from Equestria. It was the scariest day of my life.”

“Oh my!” Cindy gasped. “And then what happened?”

“Thankfully, our students managed to stop Cozy Glow’s plan by removing the artifacts needed for the ritual. And shortly after, all the magic was restored in Equestria.”

“That’s a very interesting story… but it’s also a bit upsetting to have a ‘friend’ turn on you guys like that.”

“It was,” Rarity nodded. “But at least we still have each other.”

“This is why we ‘need’ to find Cozy Glow and now,” Fluttershy added.

“Right!” Spike agreed. “We may not know what she’s planning, but we need to keep an eye out for her.”

Continuing on throughout the streets, Lou seemed utterly giddy. Especially considering he was in horrible debt.

“Boy nothing beats Christmas huh?” He asked happily.

“I guess,” Cindy spoke, rather unenthusiastically.

“You guess?”

“Well, it’s just, I look around at you and Mom and everyone getting all kerbobbled. Doesn’t this seem… superfluous?”

“Well any more commercial around here, and some kid will start asking for real estate instead of toys or clothes,” Pinkie replied. “Next thing you know some dog will be decorating their house just to win a ‘Lights and Display’ contest or even a kid will write a letter to Santa just for tens and twenties~”

“Tens and twenties of what, darling?” Rarity asked.

“Exactly!”

“DAD! DAD!”

All of a sudden, the group turned toward the side as a group of Who’s trudged their way down the street. Before their very eyes, it was the very same ‘Whovenile Delinquents’ who had climbed Mt. Crumpit. Only now, the boys and their girlfriends were completely frozen in ice, as stiff as boards. So much so the boys could barely approach their own father, Lou Who.

“Whoa!” Rainbow gasped, wide-eyed. “They look like they just barely walked off a ski incident unscathed!”

“What happened to you?” Lou asked, concerned. 

“It was… the Grinch!” Stu cried.

Then everything happened all at once. No sooner did Stu mention the beast’s name that all the cars bumped right into each other and the Christmas music playing over the loudspeakers screeched to a complete halt. All the Who’s bumped into each other, scattering presents all across the street and they all turned toward the teens in fear.

“Grinch?” The Who’s asked.

“What do you want?” Grinch asked.

Reacting quickly, Cozy Glow nudged her disguised cohort’s leg with a hoof and waved the other below her head not wanting to blow their cover.

“I mean… ‘Grinch? Oh, no!’” Grinch feigned fear.

“Not the Grinch!” Cozy cried dramatically, clutching his leg. “Save me Daddy! Don’t let the mean, stinky old Grinch eat me! Save me!”

“You’re really pushing it this time…” Grinch muttered.

Regardless, the pair quickly ducked aside to avoid the crowds. And just in time, for just emerging from one of the buildings, a rather pompous, well-dressed Who came to investigate all the commotion. This rather important Who figure, dressed in a fancy suit, was none other than May-Who, the mayor of Whoville himself… along with his sycophantic aide and servant, Whobris.

“Did someone just say… ‘Grinch’?” The Mayor asked.

The group turned toward the Who in question and instantly Lou seemed slightly nervous before his presence.

“Hello Mayor May-Who sir,” Lou greeted timidly.

Seeing a familiar face along the crowd, the Mayor rolled his eyes and ushered the postman Who toward him with a single finger. Lou quickly approached the Mayor, who wrapped an arm over his shoulder.

“Lou…” The Mayor spoke. “I don’t need to remind you that this Christmas marks the one thousandth Whobilation~”

“Whoville’s most important celebration!” Whobris emphasized.

“And the book of Who” The Mayor continued, pulling out a large book. “Says very clearly, ‘Every size of Who we can measure knows that Whobilation is a time we must treasure!’. Now Lou, please tell me that your boys were not up on Mount Crumpit provoking the one creature within a billion bilometers of here who hates Christmas!”

“But it was the Grinch!” The boys argued.

The boys were about to argue further, when Lou quickly approached his sons and covered their mouths just before they could stir any further commotion.

“No, sir, the boys didn’t see any Grinch,” Lou reassured.

“It was, and he came after..” The boys continued.

“I think they were up on the mountain playing with matches,” Lou interrupted, smiling nervously. “Or defacing public property, or…”

“Making their way to lover’s lookout?” Pinkie added.

All the Who’s quickly turned toward the talking Pink pony, gawking over the idea. Pinkie merely looked back toward the group not seeing the reason for their expressions.

“What? It’s where I would go with my husband!”

Among the Who’s looking toward the talking pony, the Mayor eyed her and her group of friends rather suspiciously. He had not seen talking ponies of their nature before, and they certainly were complete strangers in their town. But not wanting to cause too big a scene, at least not for the moment, the Mayor smiled with satisfaction over their answers to the boys ‘activities’… and ‘not’ what he suspected they were referring to.

“That’s a relief,” The Mayor sighed, calling out. “All right, you heard the man: There is no Grinch problem here!”

Everyone sighed in relief and the Who’s went on with their daily business. Just then, a giant spitball came from nowhere and nailed the Mayor right upside the head, much to his confusion. Lou started to pick up the Christmas presents, with some of the ponies helping him out. And yet one of the ponies, Fluttershy, turned toward Cindy Lou.

“Cindy… what’s a Grinch?” Fluttershy asked nervously.

“I… don’t know,” Cindy admitted.

She then proceeded to approach her father, hoping he knew the answer.

“Dad, who’s the Grinch?” She asked innocently.

“Oh honey, you don’t need to worry about that,” Lou said, dodging the question. “Miss Twilight, I’ve got to get to work. Could you and your friends make sure Cindy Lou gets to school?”

“Well, sure we could…” Twilight answered. “But, what about—”

“School—go on now.”

And just like that, Lou took off before either of the group could ask any further questions. The Equestrians found themselves in a bigger mystery than they were before. It wasn’t enough that Cozy Glow was somewhere in this peaceful town, running amok and causing trouble. Now it seemed this town was in fear of a fiercely, scary monster whom a group of boys claimed to have seen. They had no idea what this ‘Grinch’ was capable of or how dangerous this creature could be. But still, if this beast should get in their way of finding Cozy Glow and putting the spirit of Christmas at risk…

Celestia help us…